Newcastle bid for free-kick firecracker wizard

Newcastle United have launched a bid of £1.5 million to prize midfielder Lewis McGugan away from Nottingham Forest, according to the Mirror.

The 22-year-old played a pivotal part in helping Forest reach the Npower Championship play-offs, where they were eventually downed by Swansea City at the semi-final stage.

McGugan's thunderous free-kick against Ipswich Town was nominated for the Football League Goal of the Year award.

 

Following the sale of Kevin Nolan, Alan Pardew is searching for an all-action midfielder to help Newcastle maintain their Barclays Premier League status.

The addition of McGugan, who has emerged as one of the Championship brightest young talents, may also help bare the loss of Joey Barton, who could leave Newcastle this summer.

After selling Nolan for an initial £3 million, meaning a deal for halve that amount would represent decent value for Newcastle, but perhaps be an unlikely price for Forest to agree to.